Optimized Home

Do you have an old fridge? The latest Energy Star models use almost half the energy than a model from the 90s.  When it comes to an efficient fridge, the best advice is to make sure you have a newer model. If you can’t upgrade right now, the tips below will help you get the most from your model.

Even if you have a newer model, the tips below will ensure it is running at maximum efficiency.

Difficulty: Very Easy  (15 minutes)

Tools needed:
- Brush and vacuum

Action Steps:

1. Keep the door shut.

This first step is obvious. Every minute you stand in front of the door deciding what to snack on, you’re letting precious cooled air out and replacing it with warm air that your unit must work hard to cool again.

2. Clean your condenser coils and air intakes once a year.

The coils you are looking for are either behind or below your fridge. I have a Whirlpool side-by-side model purchased in 2001 and the coils are below. I’ll confess, I haven’t cleaned the coils since the day we installed it.

You can see the results in the picture below:

Here’s how they look after a 5-minute clean:

The compressor now cools more efficiently and runs less frequently. I know it was a coincidence, but as soon as I cleaned the coils the compressor stopped running, as if breathing a sigh of relief.

3. Check the doors for a good seal.

Magnetic door seals can weaken over time and will lose their grip on the edge of the fridge. You can easily test the seal by closing a sheet of paper in the door at several points along each seal. If you can pull the paper out easily, then the seal is too weak. You may need to adjust the doors or install a new seal.

4. Set the temperature control dials correctly.

How frozen do you need your food? Cooling beyond the minimum needed temperature provides no benefit and wastes energy. Ideally, you should keep your refrigerator between 37° and 40° F. Keep the freezer between 0° and 5° F. You can check the temperature by placing a thermometer in a glass of water in the fridge for 24 hours. To check your freezer, place the thermometer between 2 bags of frozen vegetables for the same amount of time.

5. Give your fridge room to breathe.

A decrease of 5° in ambient temperature can cut energy consumption by as much as 20 percent. This means you need to provide an escape route for the warm air that builds up around the fridge during operation. Make sure you have at least 2 inches of airspace between the sides and back of the fridge and the walls.

6. Shield your fridge from direct sunlight.

For the same reason as above, you should position the fridge or arrange window treatments so that it is not exposed to direct sunlight. If you have the choice, position it as far away as practical from the dishwasher, oven or heating vents in your kitchen.

7. Keep your fridge full.

Once the contents of your refrigerator are cooled, they will help hold the temperature down.

Whether your fridge is new or old, these simple tips will keep it cooling at peak efficiency.

Previous articles in this series:

Introduction - 30 Days to a more organized and efficient home
Day 1 - Know Your Home
Day 2 - Replace Your Lights with CFL Bulbs
Day 3 - Improve the Energy Efficiency of Your Computer
Day 4 - Optimize Your HVAC

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